"You need to call your mother."
My confusion must have shown on my face because Abe asked, "What's wrong, Danny?"
"Your mother wanted to know when she was going to get an invitation to the wedding."
Abe's lips thinned as he pressed them together for a moment. "I'll talk to her."
"What wedding?"
Abe chuckled as he brought my hand up to his lips and pressed a kiss to the top of it. "Our wedding,liefling."
Surprise lifted my eyebrows. "We're getting married?"
Since when?
"We are."
"When?" I kind of needed to know these things. I'd been worried about the boyfriend label while Abe was apparently planning the rest of our lives.
"Just as soon as the doctor releases me from the hospital and we can go home," Abe replied.
I stared at him for a moment before glancing up to the nurse, who was watching both of us while a smile on her face. "Where's the doctor?"
Now would be good.
I waited for the nurse to leave before turning to look at Abe. "Are you serious about this?"
I wasn't sure I was quite ready to be married, but I'd be devastated if Abe was just playing around.
"Where are my clothes?"
"Oh." I frowned at the sudden change of conversation. "I folded them all up and put them in a bag."
"Can you get them for me?"
"You can't leave until the doctor releases you."
"Just get my clothes, Danny." Abe was scooting up on the bed as he spoke. "My pants specifically."
I walked over to the bag that sat on the floor next to the chair I'd occupied for the last several hours. I grabbed the bag then set it on the chair, reaching inside for Abe's pants. They were easy to find. Dark khaki cargo pants.
I pulled the pants out of the bag and carried them over to Abe. I had expected him to swing his legs around and start pulling the pants on. I was totally confused when he dug into the pocket of the pants and pulled out a small black bag.
"I've been carrying this around since about a week after I saw you in that motel room." Abe upended the bag, and three small gold rings fell out into his palm. One was bigger than the other two. One had three small diamonds set into it.
Abe held out his hand. "I want you to know I am very serious about marrying you. I know you might not be ready yet, but I hope one day you will be. No matter when, I am in this for the long haul."
"You bought wedding rings?" I whispered.
"These two are wedding rings." Abe pushed two of them off to one side then pointed to the one with the three small diamonds. "This is an engagement ring. I'm hoping you'll wear it until you're ready to marry me."
My throat totally clogged up on me as I battled to hold back my tears. No one had ever come through on the words they'd spoken to me. People made a lot of promises, but they never followed through. It was as if I was sparkly for a moment, but then I lost my luster.
I was terrified the same thing would happen with Abe.
I stared down at the ring as I asked, "What if you change your mind?"
"I won't."
